Game of skill.



H. MAXIM.

GAME OF SKILL.

APPLICATION TILED NOV. 24. 1909.

1,030,521. Patent ne 2 2.

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WWMWQ M H. MAXIM.

GAME OF SKILL.

APPLICATION FILED 110v 24, 1909.

1,030,521 Patented June 25,1912.

H. MA

GAME OF K L.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2 44444 9 1,030,521 Patented June 25, 1912.

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HUDSON MAXIM, OF HOPATCONG, NEW JERSEY.

GAME or SKILL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

,Application filed November 24, 1909.

Patented June 25, 1912.

Serial No. 529,767.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUDSON Maxnnof the borough of Hopatcong, county of Sussex, State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Games of Skill, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in games of skill of that class to which chess and checkers belong, wherein pieces representing men or insignia of powers or positions .are employed and given certain moves upon a checkered board or a board laid out in a given number of checks, squares or rectangles, alternating in color with one another.

One object of the invention is to provide a game which shall simulate or symbolize war, or military operations and tactics, especially land operations in battle or in seige.

In carryingout the invention, I employ a board having one hundred squares or rectangles; and in addition to the one hundred squares, four additional spaces, preferably circular, are used as perches or stations for pieces representing flying machines.

The pieces employed in the game may be of an desired'shape or form, and as here shown are designed to represent and, to some extent to symbolize, the parts played in actual war by the persons and things they symbolize.

For the purpose of describing the invention and indicating one manner of playing the game and providing certain given pow: ers and moves for the several pieces,'I will describe the pieces when having their preferred form symbolizing the parts played in war by the persons and things they represent, and will indicate certain powers and moves which may be assigned to such pieces. It will be understood, however, that the pieces may ".have other forms than those herein described for purposes of illustration, and may have other moves and powers of capture, etc., than those herein specifically I described, without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, all of the pieces shown as occupying the rear lines in pa pieces in chess, and the pieces shown as occupying the third and fourth lines from the rear in said'Fig. 10 may have theform of the pawns in chess, and all of these various pieces may have assigned to them by re 10 may have the form of the princi-' arbitrary rules such moves and capturing powers as may be deemed desirable. Likewise, the flying machine picces illustrated in Fig. 7, and also in the circular stations exterior to the checkered surface in Fig. 10, may be given any desired form. and have any desired power assigned to them, though I prefer; as hereinafter described, to give these pieces a form designed to symbolize a flying machine, and to assign to such pieces the power of blocking any given square on the checkered surface, in order that such pieces may by their powers symbolize the blowing up or destruction of bridges or the breaking of lines of communication.

While the pieces may have any preferred forms and powers of movement, I prefer to give them the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and to'assign to them the names and the moves and powers of cap ture hereinafter described.

' The king, president or other head of the government, is represented by an arbitrary symbol, being a pedestal of regular contour upon which rests a crown, the pedestal being preferably decorated with crossed swords or other insignia of War. This piece representing the king or president has the same'moves as does the king in chess-that is to say, it is capable of moving in any direction one square at a time, and also has the power of taking any piece of an opponent which may be opposed to it on an immediately adjacent square. This piece representing the king or president is set upon a specially marked square or space intended to symbolize a citadel. The king or president, and the general or commanding ofiicer, stand side by side, as the king and queen in chess, the general occupying a position at the right of the king on one side of the board (the red side), and at the left ofthe king on the opposite side of the board (the blue side), corresponding with the positions of the king and queen in chess. .7 1

The general is represented by a piece consisting of an eagle perched upon a round ball, mounted upon a pedestal; and this piece has the same movements as the queen in chess, being able to pass in any direction across the board, and to any distance,when unopposed by other pieces, and having the power to take any piece of an opponent any direction.

The siege artillery is represented or symbolized by a piece representing an old-style terminating at the top in a ball, upon which mortar, mounted on a base and with a round shaft are flanges representing the aeroplanes projectile in the muzzle. This piece is given of a flying machine. These flying-machine the same moves as those of the castle in pieces have the power of moving or flying chess-tl1at is to say, the piece has the power rom their perches over intervening pieces of moving straight forward and backward to any'unoccupied square upon the board or at right angles, and to any distance across whose color corresponds with that of the .the board when unimpeded by other pieces, perch upon which they normally rest. The and has the power of taking the pieces of an flying machines are each able to make but opponent in the same manner as does the one move. during the game, and are emcastle in chess; and this piece occupies the ployed to block the movement of a piece of end squares at right and left in the first line an enemy, and when placed upon a square,

. of squares upon the board, as in chess. no other piece of either contestant is after- The cavalry, or horse, is represented by a ward able to move upon or to pass over that piece of the same general appearance and square during the game, the idea being to character as that known as the knight in symbolize the blowing-up of bridges or the chess, namely, the emblem of a horses head destruction of other means of communicamounted upon a base; and the horse inthe tion from point to point. The other pieces present game hasthe samemovementsand the already mentioned-are arranged upon the same power to take pieces of the opponent rear line of each side in a similar manner as does the knight in chess--thatis to say, to that of the pieces in chess whose move its movements. are one square diagonally ments correspond with theirs. 7 Beginning and one square straight. This piece is iniwith the king upon the citadel, the general tially placed upon the second square from occupies the next square at the right upon each end, corresponding with the square 00- the red side, and the next square at the left cupied by the knight in chess. upon the blue side; and then 'upon each The field artillery, or cannon, is r r side of the king and general upon both sides sented in the resent game by a pi symof the board are unoccupied squares, and bolizing an 0 d-style, muzzle-loading fi ldimmediately behind theseunoccupledsquares gun, mounted upon a suitable base. This e four circular p s r e s, o e b ack piece has the same movements as the bishop n One Wh1 n ch Si e f the heard, in chess, being able to pass in any direction up n which pleces are placed symbolizing diagonally across the board to any distance h flying machlnesa Nexton each side in and to take any piece of an opponent which regular der Come the p eces symbol zing ay b opposed t ity i it l f a a the field artillery or cannon, then the pieces There are also ten pieces on each side emy o izing the horse or cavalry, and lastly,

ployed to represent or symbolize lin f upon the corner squares are placed the pieces troops, positioned on alternate squares upon ymbolizing mortars or siege artillery.

the third and fourth lines of checks from Re e ng o the pa y g drawings: each side of the board next to the players, Fig- 1 represents the checkered board on five in number on each line, the pieces being which the game is played. Fig. 2 represents placed upon the black squares on the red the king or chief civil officer, of which there side, and the white squares on the blue side is one on each side. Fig. 3 represents the of the board. These pieces have in the main general or commanding oflicer, of which the combined movements of those of chess there is one on each side. Fig. 4 represents and checkers, as hereinafter described. For the cavalry or horse, of which there are two contrast, I em'loy black and white as the on each side. Fig. 5 represents the cannon alternating co ors of the squares of the or field artillery, of which there are two on board, and blue and red as the distinguisheach side. F ig, 6 represents the mortars or ing colors of the opposing pieces; which are siege artillery, of which there are two on re erred to as the blue and red respectively. each side. Fig. 7 represents the flying ma- The next adjacent squar s at the right and chines, of which there are two on each s1de. left of those occupied by the king and comig- 8 r p se s e larger or r q ps, mandingofli r, or general, are unoccupied of which there are five on each Slde. Fig. 9

at the beginning of the game; and immedirepresents the smaller or van troops, of ately back of these vacant places are circuwhich there are five on each Slde Flg. 10

iar spaces which serve as the perches or stashows the location of the respective pieces tlons of the pieces representm flying aupon the board, eac h being in its proper pochines. These perches are of di erent colors, v i at the g ng f he g me.

the color of each corresponding to that of In Fig. 1, 1 indicates the black checks or the square adjacent to it, one being black, squares and 2 the white checks or squares; 3 and one white. represents the red citadel, which is a battle- The flying machines are symbolized by men'ted area in one of the black squares,

small pieces, consisting of a circular base, colored red, upon which the red king is and an upward -projecting, conical shaft, placed; 4 represents the blue citadel, which is a battlemented area in one of the white squares, colored blue, upon which the blue king is placed; on the corner squares 5 are placed the mortars or pieces representing the siege artillery; on squares 6 are placed the horse or pieces representing the cavalry; on squares 7 are placed the cannon or pieces representing the field artillery; squares 8 are unoccupied at the beginning of the game; on squares 9 are placed the generals or commanding oflicers. Circles 10, of which there are two on each side, one black and one white, are the perches or stations for the pieces symbolizlng the flying machines. Circular spaces 11 in the black squares on the red side are colored red, and mark the positions, at the beginning of the game, of the red pieces representing the troops on the red side, the larger pieces being placed on the rear line and the smaller pieces on the front line. Circular spaces 12 in the White squares on the blue side are colored blue, and mark the positions at the beginning of the game, of the blue pieces representing the troops on the blue side, the larger pieces being placed on the rear line, and the smaller pieces on the front line. There are, therefore, forty pieces in all, twenty red and twenty blue.

The game is played by two players, with the board between them, the red side next one player and the blue side next the other player. The choice of colors and the first move may be determined either by lot or agreement. The game is opened by one player moving any piece, according to the rules of movement in the game hereinafter described, each player taking turns with alternate moves until the end of the game, which is brought about, and the game won, by one of the players advancing a piece into the citadel of his adversary and maintaining it there without capture for one move.

The moves of the pieces are as follows: The king moves one square in any direction, straight ordiagonally, right or left, forward or back, as does the king 1n chess. The general moves any number of squares in any direction, straight or diagonally, right or left, forward or back, as does the queen in chess. The cannon move any number of squares diagonally upon their own color, but must always keep to their color, the same as the bishops in chess. The horse or cavalry move one square diagonally and one straight, as do the knights in chess. The mortars or siege artillery move straight any number of squares, right or left, forward or back, the same as do the castles in chess. The troops have the combined movements of the pieces in checkers or draughts and the pawns in chess; that is to say, they move in any forward direction, straight or diagonally; and-when moving straight forward at the first move, they may move two squares; after the first move, only one square at a time; but when moving diagonally they are able to move but one square at a time. They can never move backward or sidewisc. Each flying machine has only a single move in a game, which is over any intervening pieces and upon any unoccupied square whatsoever of the color of its station, except the two eitadels. after which move it must remain where placed until the end of the game, thus blocking the square against any other piece of either color occupying it or passing over it. No piece can be moved to a square occupied by another of its own color. No piece can pass over a square occupied by a piece of either color, except the cavalry and the flying machines, which are able to leap over any intervening piece or pieces to an unoccupied square, and the troops in making their jumping moves to take pieces, as in checkers. The flying machines alone, of all the pieces, can neither capture nor be captured. The captured pieces are removed from the board. A troop can capture only a piece on an adjacent square diagonally in front of it, either by occupying the square of the piece. thus captured as in chess, or, when the piece opposing is a troop, but not otherwise, by leaping over it to the-next adjacent square beyond the captured piece diagonally as in checkers, provided that the square beyond, of course, be an unoccupied square at the time; and if the troop elects to jump, then should thene be two or more troops in posicheckers, it must either take by so jumphe must, as in checkers, take all of the troops of his opponent thus offered. Although a troop can move forward upon an unoccupied square lying before it in a straight line, it cannot capture a piece on such square, nor can an opponent take a piece en passan-t as in chess. When one or more troops are offered to a troop of the opposing color, to be taken by jumping as in checkers, it must either take by so jumping, or, if the taking player shall elect, the capture may be made by moving upon the square of the offered troop to capture it, or the capture of the oflered troop may be made instead by any other piece bearing upon the square at the time. When a player offers a troop to be jumped or taken by a troop of an opponent, if the taking troop be also in a position to take a larger or more important piece, it is at the option of the player which piece he shall take. Any troop having reached the last rank on the far side of the board cannot then be captured, but remains dead on'the square for the remainder of the game, and such square is henceforth. blocked by the dead troop against occupancy or passage over it by any piece of either color. This rule, however, does not apply in the case of a troops entrance into the citadel of the opposite side, when it is liable to be captured by the enemy, but has itself no further move.

The forms of pieces, moves assigned thereto, powers of capture and other rules for playing the game hereinbefore described, are those which I prefer to employ, and are herein set forth for the purpose of enabling the invention and one manner of using the same to be fully understood. But as before mentioned, the invention (which consists of the checkered board, of the peculiar construction shown and described, and with suitable pieces arranged thereon at the beginning of the game, as shown in Fig. 10 and described in the specification, and defined in the claims) is not limited to such forms, powers of movement and capture, and rules, since other forms of pieces, with different powers assigned thereto, or different. rules for playing the game, may be laid down if desired, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention which I desire to claim is as follows:

1. A game apparatus comprising a checkered board divided into one hundred squares, arranged in transverse rows of ten squares each and having the squares of two contrasting colors alternating with each other, and two stations exterior to the checkered surface of the board on one side thereof one being colored to correspond with one set of squares and the other to correspond with the other set of squares, two stations of like positions and colors on the opposite side of the board, and two sets of pieces, the two sets being of contrasting colors and each set being arranged with some of its pieces in the squares of the checkered surface and some of its pieces on the stations exterior to said checkered surface.

2. A game apparatus comprising acheckered board divided into one hundred squares arranged in transverse rows of teh squares each, and having the squares of two contrasting colors alternating with each other, and

two stations exterior to the checkered surface of the board on one side thereof one being colored to correspond with one set of squares and the other to correspond with the other set of squares, two stations of like positions and colors on the opposite side of the board, and two sets of pieces, the two sets being of contrasting colors and each set being a ranged with two of its pieces on said stations, eight of its pieces on the rear or first row of squares and ten of its pieces on the third and fourth rows of squares of its side of the board, the second or next to rear row being left vacant.

3. A game apparatus comprising acheckered board divided into one hundred squares arranged in transverse rows of ten squares each, and having the squares of two contrasting colors alternating with each other, and two stations exterior to the checkered surface of the board on one side thereof one being colored to correspond with one set of squares and the other to correspond with the other set of squares, two stations of like positions and colors on the opposite side of the board, and two sets of pieces, the two sets being of contrasting colors and each set being arranged with two of its pieces on said stations, eight of its pieces on the rear or first row of squares and ten of its pieces on the third and fourth rows of squares of its side of the board, the second or next to rear row being left vacant, and the pieces on the third and fourth rows all being arranged on squares of the same color.

4. A game apparatus comprising acheckered board divided into squares arranged in right lines or rows with the alternating squares of two contrasting colors, and four perches or stations arranged outside the checkered surface two on each of two opposite sides of the board, said stations being arranged adjacent to squares in the first or rear rows of the opposing sides and each station being colored to correspond to the color of the square immediately in front of it in said first or rear row.

5. A game apparatus comprising acheckered board divided into one hundred squares, arranged in transverse rows of ten squares each and having the squares of two contrasting colors alternating with each other and four stat-ions'of contrasting colors associated with the two outside transverse rows of squares, said two outside rows each having a square characterized as a citadel, the third and fourth rows on each side of the board having their alternate squares characterized as troop stations and pieces equal in number to the last-named stations, and other pieces equal in number to said outside stations and other pieces four less than the squares in the front and rear rows of squares.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HUDSON Witnesses:

E. Frrz GIBBON, D. L. BRYANT. 

